They are the biggest club in the world, so we understand the superficial attraction. But if Pochettino was to leave Tottenham, he would be taking a huge gamble. Is it an attractive proposition to go to Old Trafford now and leave everything he’s got behind? Really?

Let’s compare the teams. If you had to choose between Harry Kane and Romelu Lukaku, who would you pick? I’d go for Kane every time.

What about Dele Alli or Paul Pogba? For me, it’s Alli. Christian Eriksen or Juan Mata? Eriksen, all day long.

Mousa Dembele or Nemanja Matic? Dembele, simple. The respective defences? It’s not even an argument that you would choose all four Tottenham players.

The only position that stops this becoming a clean sweep is goalkeeper, where David de Gea has the edge on Hugo Lloris.

Losing manager Mauricio Pochettino could be a blow that sets Tottenham back years

Given Manchester United's current state, is it attractive to leave Tottenham right now?

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That’s why I say it is a huge gamble. I look at United now and see a club that is unrecognisable from the one I used to play against: the slump over the last 12 months has been dramatic as when Stoke played them in January, I saw them as becoming the biggest threat to Manchester City this season.

But they are as far away from being champions as at any point since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. I don’t know how it has happened, when you think of the money they have, but nothing feels like it used to with United.

When you see Alexis Sanchez, who was unplayable at Arsenal, looking a shadow of his former self or the team failing to lay a hand on Liverpool last weekend, you realise how deep and varied the issues are for a new man to address. You could almost say it is a poisoned chalice.

It’s why I felt sorry for Jose Mourinho, when I heard the news break on Tuesday morning. Darren Fletcher told me just before we went out to train and after the initial shock, it quickly looked like the best decision for all parties.

I have met Mourinho a few times away from games and always found him bubbly and full of life. The man who looked so solemn and angry at times this season was not the man I knew. I’m sure the pay-off he’s received will ease the sting but the way it ended will still hurt.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will, surely, bring an end to the negativity but that is only a temporary measure — I would have loved to have seen Roy Keane get that role, just to see how the players reacted — and the subject of Pochettino will not go away.

So the next six months are going to be crucial and Pochettino has so much to consider in that time. On one hand, he has a lot of what he could want at Tottenham — top players with whom he has a special bond, the unrelenting support of the fans and the prospect of a fantastic new stadium.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will, surely, bring an end to the negativity around Old Trafford

I felt sorry for Jose Mourinho when I heard that he had been sacked on Tuesday

This could be the start of a special time for Tottenham.

I want to reiterate the point I made on the opening day of this season about the best business they did last summer was getting all the major influences tied down to new contracts.

However, Pochettino will not be able to keep Tottenham in the Champions League places if the club do not spend in the future and I’m certain he will be looking at Daniel Levy and trying to find out whether they have the financial capabilities to match their rivals.

He will have looked at the business Liverpool have done over the past 12 months — smashing records to sign Virgil van Dijk and Alisson and improve the two weakest areas of their team — and want to do the same.

If Levy doesn’t do this, he will find himself without a manager.

Tottenham need to start spending though to keep Pochettino satisfied at club

With players like Harry Kane, Spurs are stronger than United in most areas of the pitch

Money will not be an object in Manchester. The next permanent manager will be given all the backing he needs and the potential, if they get it right, is frightening for their opponents. Pochettino could be the man they need to make it all click together.

Potential, though, does not come with guarantees of success and that is why leaving Tottenham — if that is what Pochettino one day chooses to do — is a gamble.

I don’t think the speculation will have any bearing on Tottenham’s results this year. But if he goes, it could rip the club apart.

It was good fun to do the Carabao Cup draw on Wednesday, though I’m not sure Piers Morgan would say the same after having to wear a Tottenham shirt!

This competition has had a lot of criticism down the years but I feel it has now found its feet again and it’s getting a reputation for being the tournament in which you can get a proper look at the players who are trying to make their way forward.

If you are a young lad at a Premier League club, the Carabao Cup should be the avenue you hope to exploit and impress your manager. This year we have seen talents such as Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe and Brahim Diaz of Manchester City catch the eye.

It was fun to do the Carabao Cup draw on Wednesday with Piers Morgan in a Tottenham shirt

The spin-off for managers is watching these players and deciding whether they are ready to handle the intensity of important games or if they need more time to develop.

I know some argue the calendar would be more manageable without a second cup competition, but it has a purpose. It continually throws up good stories. Last season we had Bristol City knocking out Manchester United on their way to a semi-final with Manchester City and this time around we have got the fantastic exploits of Burton Albion to enjoy.

Most important of all is that it offers a chance to get to Wembley — and how crucial could that be for Mauricio Pochettino or Maurizio Sarri, who are both chasing their first piece of silverware? And don’t discount how upset Unai Emery will be to have missed out.

The League Cup has not been helped by having so many different identities but I am confident that it will continue to thrive in the future, especially if it becomes the competition that launches the stars of tomorrow.

There has been some surprise about Chelsea’s interest in Callum Wilson being confirmed. To that I would have to ask: why?

If Wilson was doing what he is currently doing in Italy, Germany or Spain, there would be widespread agreement that he would be perfect at Stamford Bridge. When Alvaro Morata was linked to Chelsea, nobody said a word to object.

But Wilson plays for Bournemouth, so there is suspicion about whether he can succeed at Chelsea. It’s a strange one. Transfers such as these used to happen all the time when I was kid with strikers starting off at low level then climbing: think of Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand and Chris Sutton.

It remains to be seen whether Chelsea follow up their initial interest with a firm bid next month but what I do know of Wilson is that he is a striker on the up. He’s got some extra impetus following his goalscoring debut for England and he’s maturing all the time.

The other thing is that he is proven in the top division. If he can score for Bournemouth, he could score for Chelsea.

A striker like Callum Wilson should be worth his weight in gold. He would be better than someone who is unproven and would be a gamble.

MY WEEK

Who’s caught my eye?

Xherdan Shaqiri. It was great to see my old team-mate starring in Liverpool’s win over Manchester United.

I’ve said before there was never a doubt about Shaqiri’s ability to make an impact at Anfield. I’m delighted things are going so well for him.

Next up for me..

We are training late on Christmas afternoon, so that means I’m going to be away from home. I did make a plea to Abbey to see if we could have an early lunch but her reply of, ‘No chance’ meant it was a complete non-starter.

Still, I’ll get to see the kids open their presents, which is what it’s all about. Very best wishes to you all.

What I'm listening to...

In between the Christmas classics, I’ve had Movies, the new tune from Circa Waves, on a lot this week. They are a band I really like and I’d suggest you give them a whirl.

What I've been up to...

There’s plenty on this week, the highlights being the nativity plays my daughters took part in.

Sophia, my eldest, was a builder in her production — they had a modern take on the old story — while Liberty was a sheep in her play. I’ve never been so proud.

Once again, the draw for the Champions League has led to an inevitable question: is this going to be our year?

We have four teams in the last 16 and many people are looking at Manchester City as being the first Premier League club to win the tournament since 2012. They couldn’t have wished for a more straightforward draw against Schalke, but I have my doubts.

It’s got nothing to do with talent, more to do with feeling.

I don’t understand why the club’s supporters don’t have an affinity with the Champions League but the City fans in my family would all prefer to win the Premier League again.

Manchester City should beat Schalke but I'm unsure if they will win the Champions League

Europe is certainly second on their wish list.

Maybe that will change if City get to the last four, but they don’t have the connection with Europe that Liverpool do. There is no doubt that their clash with Bayern Munich is the tie of the round, along with Atletico Madrid against Juventus.

Should Juventus get through that test, they would be my favourites to win it. They are flying in Italy and look geared up to do it this time. Their strength means our wait will go on.